Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-09-15
CHAPTER VIII.


the storm was forced to seek shelter in
wood where l remained the afternoon and
night, wet, shivering and nearly perishing
with cold and hunger. The storm cleared,
however, in the night, and the sun rose
bright and clear in the morning. dragged
myself out of the thicket where had lain,
and by great difficulty gained the high road,
but / found could no longer continue my
journey. My limbs ached, as did my head,
while one moment was chilled to the bone,
the next burning with fever. Lights danced
before my eyes, and / grew so faint and
giddy could scarcely stand. Slowly creep
ing along thus l determined to stop at
neat white house by the road, and accord
ingly opening the gate / crept slowly up
the walk.
A sweet-faced lady was briskly opening
the shutters as came In. But she paused
and uttered an exclamation when she saw
me, and no wonder, for more pitiable look
ing object could hardly have met your eyes
than was at that moment.
Ny clothes were wet and splashed with
mud; my hat hung limp over my disheveled
hair, and my shoes were in tatters. But
my failing strength made me regardless of
looks. went to the window Tried to tell
the woman that was weak, starving and
ILL., but my words mixed themselves up IN a
strange, confused manner. A mist came
before my eyes, and remembered nothing
more till awoke lying on lounge in a
pleasant room with the kind face had seen
at the window bending over me, while she
bathed my head, rubbed my benumbed
hands and strove in every way to arouse
me to consciousness. When / had in a
measure recovered, she removed my outer
garments, took eff my soaked shoes and
stockings, and smoothed out my tangled
hair, her soft, gentle touch soothing some
what the burning pain in my head. She
asked me no questions; she merely accept
ed my situation as matter of course, and
if had aroused her curiosity she did not ex-
press it.
She then brought me a cup of tea and
bit of toast, which she urged me to eat; but,
while drank the tea, / could not touch the
toast, though made several Intellectual at
tempts to do so, wishing to crafty my kind
benefactor.
''Never mind eating it, child" she said,
seeing my attempts. ''If you do not feel
like eating you had better not.n And / saw
tears in her soft blue eyes as she spoke.
She then conducted me to a room, dis
robed me gently as a mother might, and
tucked me in the softest of beds and drew
the curtains to shut out the light from my
aching eyes, and soon fell into a troubled
sleep l remember awaking once, but after
this came long blank, or rather dull con-
fused dream, in which in imagination ]
travelled hundreds of miles, ever toilng on
over stony roads and up steep and dizzy
heights, or else l scrambled through dense
thickets, or was lost in the labyrinth of deep
forests, or / walked by cool streams and
bubbling fountains, but not one drop could
obtain to quench my burning thirst, and
ever before me was the face of Irma Bar
rett- saw the CLEAN of her golden hair
and the CLINT of her blue eyes wherever
turned.
But these were dreams only, fever dreams
that worried my BRAIN while the fever that
coursed through my frame burned unceas-
ingly until, compelled to die out for want OF
fuel, it left me weak as an infant. But, at
tended as / was by a skilled physician, and
watched over by Mrs. Kent Cfor that,
found, was her Nance, with the utmost
soicitude, soon began to grow better.
1t had been November when fell i'll, but
it was mid-winter when, wrapped in shawls,
/ crept to the window for the first time and
gazed out on the leafless trees and brown,
swinging vines in the garden. But was
glad to creep back again to the warm-cush-
ioned chair by the FIRE where Mrs. Kent sat
busily knitting and smiling at my attempts
ut walking
But grew better rapidly, and was soon
able to lay aside invalid wraps and chairs.
One day when 1 had grown quite strong,
Mrs. Kent gently asked me to tell her my
story, for she felt sure, she said, there was
something amiss or | would not have been
in such strait. Without any hesitation l
frankly told her my entire history so far as
/ knew it. OF my parents or their antece-
dents of course l could not say, but left
nothing untold; even my childish attach
ment to Mr.. Dudley revealed, and my trust
in his assistance in helping to unravel the
mystery which 1 felt sure surrounded me.
Then told of his return, his cold words,
his seeming Indifference, which broke my
heart, and made me resolve to no longer
be dependent upon the bounty of others.
Mrs. Kent sat silent and thoughtful for
some time after heaying my story Ev-
identity she was striving in her own mind to
arrive at some definite conclusion in re-
gard to the matter. But she spoke at last,
quietly, gently as ever.
swell, my dear, 1 can not help thinking
perhaps you would have done better not
to have left so hastily; at least, not until
you had seen and talked with this Mr.. Dud-
ley,n she said. 'sBut what is done is done,
and we can not change it, / do not know
this family, though / have heard of them;
but it is likely that Mrs. Clayton and this
Miss Armund are connected by som secret,
but it might be and might not be for your
benefit to discoverit However, / wish now
to talk of yourself. We have been brought
together under very strange circumstances.
can not help thinking that some good will
arise from it, Now, Dorcas, have plan
TO propose. 1 am alone with the exception
of, Ann, the servant girl / have no compan-
ion; my two children are both married and
living abroad; my husband, as ] once told
you, died few months since. Therefore,
l am very lonely. l should dearly love
companion. like you, Dorcas. You are
young and friendless. VIII you accept
home with meim
"Would remain in paradise, il could"
/ cried, falling down at her feet and laying
my head in her lap in perfect transport of
Joy and thankfulness. Mrs. Kent, if
ever prove ungrateful for your kindness
may be punished as deserve. Surely there
is no one as kind and good as you"
Mrs. Kent smiled and stroked my hair
with her white, shapely hand. 1t is settled
then; you will remain with me-" she said,
and my assent was a joyful one.
That winter classed among the happiest
of my life. We were so comfortable, so
coy, so entirely devoted to each other, that
the days were never long or the evenings
tedious We seldom went out except TO
church. Mrs Kent, found, was cultured
woman, and under her teachings improved
rapidly.
CHAPTER TX
Twill not weary the reader with full &C
count Of my life for the next two years. 1t
passed with very little of interest to the
outsider. AT the end of this time was
well grown girl of seventeen, and though
had mixed very little in society fiattered
myself was in measure free from that
awkwardness so painfully common to girls
brought up in seclusion. 1 had during this
time heard occasionally from the Clayton's,